One new change implemented for the 2012 NFL season is one I feel is years overdue. No, not the change in the overtime rules (that is decades overdue), but simply this…

Thursday night football. Every week. An incredible amount of yes.

This week, it’s a… less flashy matchup than we’ve grown accustom to the last month. Instead of a hot divisional rivalry or a classic QB duel, we’re treated to an NFC matchup that features… two teams from the NFC. GET EXCITED!

One, a surprisingly adept defensive minded team battling it out in a hard-hitting division that is built on cold weather and stopping power. The other, a roller coaster team with an explosive offense that can’t seem to find an identity aside from “that pirate team in that division OWNED by the Atlanta Falcons”.

It’s Vikings. It’s Bucs.

It’s THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!

KEY STORYLINES:

For the Vikings…

– QB Christian Ponder is coming off his worst performance all season. Vikings fans won’t like to revisit it, but after a tremendous start to the year, Ponder put up a stinker, throwing for just 58 yards (with two interceptions). In short, he needs a bounce back game to get himself back on track. That is exactly what is in the cards tonight when he faces the No.31 ranked Bucs pass defense. He’ll be looking for WR1 Percy Harvin on a regular basis, but if the Vikings want to win, Ponder will need to jump-start his chemistry with TE Kyle Rudolph, which has been magic at times this year.

– Pro Bowl RB Adrian Peterson continues to excel this season since returning from serious knee surgery that knocked him out of the 2011 campaign. He’s coming off his best game of the season, but missed Vikings practice on Tuesday with an injured ankle. While the injury is not consider serious, it’s also worth noting that many players opt for rest during the short turnaround from Sunday-Thursday games.

– The Vikings have one of the best defenses in the NFL at the moment, ranking No.9 overall and stifling many teams so far this season. They’ll need to be incredibly strong in their secondary, as the Bucs possess an increasingly powerful passing attack. Even with a brutal performance from Christian Ponder last week, the Vikings D (with help from Adrian Peterson) managed to get the win over Arizona.

How can they win this game? On the defensive side of the ball. Tampa Bay’s offence has looked dynamite the last few games, so the Odinsons are going to have to play a strong game in the secondary to shut down the Bucs. In order to do that, it is imperative that their top-ranked defence stays fresh. A lead is something the Vikings will absolutely need tonight, as RB Adrian Peterson can usually be relied on as a “clock-killer” which will give the Vikings defence plenty of time to rest. That might be difficult against a Bucs defense that is ranked No.3 against the run.

– After a shaky start to the year, QB Josh Freeman has been on fire the last few weeks, putting up massive points in fantasy football as well as in-game. He seems to have found a connection with Bucs WR Vincent Jackson, who has seen his share of ups and downs this season as well. Over the last few weeks, both are trending upwards in a BIG way.

– It’s not just Vincent Jackson the Vikings need to be worried about, as WR2 Mike Williams has proven to be just as dangerous a threat downfield over the last few games. Although the Vikings secondary is fairly strong, Williams (or even TE Dallas Clark) can make things difficult for the Vikings to predict.

– The Bucs running game is an absolute mess right now, and unlike the Vikings, their offense is frighteningly unbalanced. RB Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount have struggled over the last few games, and they’ll face a tough challenge against the Vikings. Their ability to run the ball will play a huge part in whether or not they win tonight.

How can they win this game? Through the air. Josh Freeman has strung together some incredible performances over the last few weeks, and although their running game is dead on arrival, Tampa’s aerial assault is clicking more than any other team in the league. If I was a Bucs fan, I would be concerned with their ability to protect a lead, as RBs Doug Martin and LeGarrette Blount struggle against strong defenses. On the flip side, if they had to come from behind, their passing game is built for big plays and quick strikes. But if the Bucs want to win, they’ll need balance.

Bottom Line: You have to believe the Vikings spent this short week of preparation focusing on how to stop the Bucs aerial attack. I have a hard time picking a team to win that is so incredibly one-dimensional, so it seems I’m leaning towards Minnesota here. The Vikings defence should limit this game from becoming a shootout (as Bucs fans have grown accustom to).

Having said that, Minnesota should win this game.

Offensive impact player: Josh Freeman (TB QB)

Defensive difference maker: “Jackass 3″ star Jared Allen (MIN DE)

We were treated to a big upset last week on TNF, tune in tonight to see what happens when there is no underdog…

Enjoy the game tonight, folks. Kickoff is 5:20 pst on NFL network (or SN in Canada)

I hope you are adequately prepared for some football.

You can follow j.Bow on twitter (@jBowmancouver). He was still really wrong about the Giants/Panthers game in week 2… but he has a strong feeling about this one.

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